Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Postal pilots

Reporter Stephen Szucs of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram has an interesting story in the Cincinnati Post online about young pilots who are making the transition from aviation school graduate to professional pilot by delivering mail to several islands in Lake Erie.

Szucs writes, "Delivering mail is one of the first ways pilots prove they have the aptitude to tackle the challenges of flight, and it is often the first rung on a professional pilot's ladder."

Shown above in a Chronicle-Telegram photo is pilot Ken Schirg, 25, who is one of the pilots contracted by the U.S. Postal Service to collect and deliver mail to a one-room post office on the bottom floor of Postmaster Helen Dopps home.

"We depend on the mail here," Dopps is quoted as saying. "Sometimes, it's the only way to stay connected with those on the mainland."